The twenty seventh troop carrier
squadron was constituted as the twenty seventh troop transport
squadron on the 19th of January 1942, activated at Daniel Field
Augusta, Georgia 24th of February 1942 redesignated as the 27th
Troop Carrier Squadron 24th of July 1942 and deactivated in China
on the 27th of December 1945.

In a rare general order, the Army
Airforce Combat Command created the 89th Transport group
consisting of five squadrons while normal policy called for a
group to consist of four. The 27ths life with the 89th was short
lived, as the squadron was transferred out and sent on through
most of its glorious career as a unique singular unit. It was to
carry out missions never before assigned in such broad scope to
any unit of the troop carrier command.

Its early responsibilities were
that as a training unit for squadrons and personnel, with
graduates going on to all corners of the globe, carrying out
their assignments with high valor to advance the efforts to rid
the world of the axis and Japanese aggressors. The squadron
earned the honor of being rated the number one training unit in
the first carrier command. Twice alerted for overseas duty, their
orders were aborted by high command in Washington, with the
reasoning being that it was far too valuable as a training unit
in the United States.

In late 1943 Japan invaded, India
with the British and Indian forces having a most difficult time
of it. Allied forces submitted an urgent request to high command
requesting the 27ths assignment to the theatre, due to its
outstanding record of night flying in all types of weather and
over all terrain. The squadron had been assigned to the tactical
air command on 29th November, only to once again see orders
aborted by high command on the 30th, with new cut sending the
unit overseas immediately. A change in commanders was made on the
6th December, and additional personnel brought into bring the
squadron up to full strength. Its air echelon flew to Baer Field,
Fort Wayne, Indiana to accept thirteen new Douglas C47 aircraft
then on to Morrison Field, Florida where a fourteenth aircraft
and crew joined the flight. The formation departed Florida on 25th
December 1943, flying the southern Atlantic route for assignment
to the China - Burma - India theatre, arriving in Karachi, India
on 10th January 1944.

Assigned to the Southeast Command,
under the command of Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the
unit flew on to Sylhet, Assam, India. Immediately they began
flying combat missions around the clock, over and behind enemy
lines giving assistance to the surrounded forces - often landing
on grass strips behind the lines to evacuate wounded personnel.
The ground echelon departed the United States on 13th January
1944, joining the operation on 28th March.

With the defeat of the Japanese at
Imphal, India, the squadron immediately began flying support to
help rid North Burma of enemy control. From Northeast India,
General Stilwell (with Chinese forces) and Ma jor General Orde
Wingate (and his beloved "Chindits") entered Burma with
two columns each driving to the South and Southeast. This was
followed with the famed "Merrill's Marauders" (American
forces) entering the country at the same point, driving towards
the industrial and rail center of Myitkyina.

In August 1943 at the "Quadrant
Conference" in Quebec, Canada, President Roosevelt, Prime
Minister Churchill and Marshall Stalin; gave a green light to
General Orde Wingate and his dream of a long range penetration
invasion behind enemy lines. The entire operation, including the
furnishing of supplies and evacuation of wounded, being carried
out from the air. The maneuver was to be used in the invasion of
Burma from central east India. The 27th was assigned, along with
the First Air Commando, to partake in this invasion entitled
"Operation Thursday". The flights, towing at times two
gliders each over the mountains, were made in the middle of the
night in extreme weather. The invasion called for airstrips,
often surrounded by Japanese forces, to be established in the
middle of the jungles to facilitate air support short landings.

The taking of Myitkyina by the
allied forces saw the 27th transferred into the 14th Air Force
"Flying Tigers" in China, under the direct command of
Major General Claire Chennault. The squadron at once partook in
the "Salween Campaign" - the invasion of Burma from
west China.

With the opening of north Burma by
the Allied forces, the squadron turned its efforts to the Eastern
China offensive operations. During this period of history it gave
support to the O.S.S. (forerunner of the C.I.A) and "Saco"
in their guerilla activities at and behind enemy lines, in
addition to guerilla units in French Indo China. The latter was a
secret endeavor with much action kept from the press and the
public.

The squadron evacuated Admiral
Miles, Commander of "Saco", from a small grass strip
behind enemy lines in Southeast China, after the third
assignation attempt on his life. The 27th also liberated General
Jonathan Wainwright from behind enemy lines in Manchuria, giving
him freedom after over three years in five Japanese prison camps.

In the final days of the war in
China, the squadron was directly under the operational orders of
the O.S.S., through the headquarters command of the 10th Air
Force. They flew covert and search missions behind enemy lines in
Manchuria, China and French Indo China.